The characters Joe and Mag have very different personalities in the Western Kentucky University Department of Theatre and Dance’s production of “Lovers.”

“While Joe is reserved and mature for his age, Mag is the typical 17-year-old girl. She loves to ramble, and it can get on his nerves a little bit,” said WKU freshman Bo Vaughn, who plays Joe. “You find out later that he really does have feelings for her. He’s wanting to act manly, but he wants to act affectionate toward Mag.”

WKU sophomore Jocelyn Moss, who plays Mag, said she sees her character as “energetic and vibrant and excited about their life together.”

“She’s more nervous than he is,” she said. “She wants him to be the big, strong man and she be the happy wife. You see how full of life she is and how optimistic she is to make it work.”

“Lovers” examines what happens when the two 17-year-olds become engaged and prepare for the birth of their first child. The play will run at 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at Gordon Wilson Lab Theatre. Tickets are $5 and may be obtained by calling 745-3121 or going online at www.wku.showare.com.

“ ‘Lovers’ is two one-act plays by Brian Friel – ‘Winners’ and ‘Losers.’ We’re doing the first half of the set. It’s set in Northern Ireland in the fictional town of Ballymore,” said WKU senior Lusie Cuskey, who is directing the play. “The plays are intended to be together but also stand alone.”

The story is set in a time when an unwed pregnancy was frowned upon. “Being in Northern Ireland and a conservative part of the world, it is against their culture and religion,” Vaughn said. “He has been expelled from school, and they have allowed him to return for his exams.”

As the play continues, two people who appear to be newscasters talk about an event that is key to the story. “It makes you see how news stories have real people behind them,” Cuskey said. “Little moments matter and are worth sharing.”

Joe is “the first genuine part I’ve had that has been very deep,” Vaughn said.

“They both have a family history that has been explored in the show,” he said “You can see how it can affects them in the show. It’s something I get to dig into.”

Moss has enjoyed developing an Irish brogue.

“I’ve never had to do an accent before,” she said. “The director gave us exercises and tapes to listen to. We’ve been reading back and forth and fixing things.”

The four-member cast has had an easy time working together.

“We’re all close friends,” Vaughn said. “It’s been a good rehearsal process because we all know each other so well.”